About FWS Status

For more information about the listing
process and other information regarding
endangered and threatened wildlife,
visit endangered.fws.gov.

What is an Endangered or Threatened Species?

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS),
in the Department of the Interior, and the National
Marine Fisheries Service, in the Department of Commerce,
share responsibility for administration of the Endangered
Species Act.

When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973,
it recognized that many of our nation's native plants and
animals were in danger of becoming extinct. The purposes
of the Act are to protect these endangered and threatened
species and to provide a means to conserve their ecosystems.

The FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service work with
other agencies to make sure their actions continue to conserve
listed species and their habitat.

Animals and plants are protected under the Endangered Species Act
when listed as "Endangered" or "Threatened." The definitions of
these terms, as determined by the FWS are listed below:

Endangered - The classification provided to an
animal or plant in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Threatened - The classification provided to an
animal or plant likely to become endangered within the foreseeable
future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

To be considered an endangered or threatened species, a plant or animal
must first be placed on the federal list of endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants. The listing program follows a strict legal process
to assess the threat the species faces.